12th October, Tamuning: Wu Siu Hong and Chan Shuk Han gave Hong Kong a double victory when the duo captured the Men's and Ladies' Open Masters titles of the 7th Guam International Open which concluded on Sunday at Central Lanes.

Top qualifier, Wu Siu Hong denied local hero, Norison Catbagan a home victory when the 23-year-old Wu cruised to a comfortable win over his opponent to win his first international title this year.

Wu, who had earlier ended the 10-game finals third behind compatriot, Eric Tseng and Guam's Jay Leon Guerrero, easily took the first game against challenger Catbagan, 183-121 in the championship match.

Another convincing 259-197 win over the Catbagan proved decisive as the three-time Hong Kong Open champion won the final game, 219-178 to pocket the top prize of US$4,000. The champion had earlier knocked out second-seed Jay Leon Guerrero, 2-1 in the best of 3 games Round 2 to reach the finals.

Meanwhile, current Asian Ranked No. 1, Chan Shuk Han captured her fourth title of the year when she emerged victorious in the Ladies' Open Masters finals to give Hong Kong a double victory. She also took home US$2,000 for her effort.

Chan denied a Guam bowler a home victory for the second time when she defeated, second-seed, Laeanne Rankin, 3-0 in the title match. The Hong Kong spinner took a 1-0 lead with a 185-176 win in the first game.

The 34-year-old national edged her challenger 213-200 in the second game and finally 215-176 in the third game to win convincingly 3-0. The top-seed earned a bye into the second round to knock out compatriot, Milki Ng, 2-1 to reach the finals.

Rankin advanced into the final match after eliminating Philippine Open champion and third-seed, Krizziah Tabora of the Philippines, 2-0 before going down to Chan in the finals. Ranking won US$1,000 while Tabora took home US$500.

Top local youth, Keith Guerrero of Guam bagged the Youth Masters title by a narrow margin of 12 pins in the 8-game handicapped event with a total of 1583 contested a day earlier on Saturday. Gavin Baker, with a 10-pin handicap per game, amassed 1491 scratch and 1571 to take second spot.

Newly-crowned Philippines Open Ladies' champion, Krizziah Tabora settled for third place with a handicapped total of 1545.

Norison Catbagan of Guam, who had 5 pin handicap per game, ended the 8-game Classified Masters finals with 1653 total to win by a convincing margin of 56 pins. Filipina, Ditas Red and Singapore's Yap Seok Kim finished second and third with 1597 and 1559 respectively.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

Keith Guerrero winnng the Youth Masters title

Filipina takes over lead

10th October, Tamuning: Philippines Open champion, Krizziah Tabora took over the lead of the Ladies' Open Masters qualifying leaderboard of the 7th Guam International at Central Lanes on Thursday as Hong's Kong's Wu Siu Hong retained pole in the Men's division.

In June this year, Krizziah Tabora created history to become the youngest-ever Filipina to win the coveted Philippines Open at the tender age of 17. The national rookie amassed a 4 game total of 903 with lines of 256, 223, 213 and 191 to move into the top of the leaderboard.

Asian Ranked No. 1 and overnight leader, Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong settled for second with 837 despite improving on her earlier score of 761 ahead of teammate, Vanessa Fung, who also improved from 761 to 845 in third spot.

Leanne Rankin of Guam became the new leader in the local pool with 755 followed by Felymar Mandapat and early leader, Shannon Bukikosa in second and third positions with 709 and 714 respectively.

Krizziah Tabora aiming for her second title

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong cemented his pole position in the Men's Open Masters qualifying improving from 900 to 914 in his subsequent attempt. Asian Championship two gold medalist, Chester King showed a return to his form with 873 to take up second spot.

Singapore's only competitor, Lee Yu-Wen did well to finished third with 868 with Asian Championship Doubles gold medalist, Cyrus Cheung of Hong Kong and Philippines' Johnson Cheng rounding up the top 5.

Guam's Keith Guerrero, who also qualified for the Open division second to local pool leader, John John Ada, topped the Youth division with a score of 830 ahead of Krizziah Tabora in second with 816.

Lee Yu-Wen hoping to end his winning drought

Buddy Saludo of Guam lead the Classified division with a score of 739 ahead of Norison Catbagan and Rick Torres taking up second and third positions with 734 and 719 respectively.

The top 8 local, top 8 foreign and top 8 from the mixed pool in the Men's Open division will qualify for the Masters finals scheduled for October 11 over 8 games. The top 4 local, top 4 foreign and top 4 from the mixed pool in the Ladies' Open division will do likewise.

The top 8 men at the end of the finals will advance into the elimination rounds with the top 4 earning a bye into Round 2. The 5th-seed will meet the 8th-seed while the 6th and 7th seeds will face each other. The winners of Round 1 will meet the 4 seeded bowlers in Round 2 and winners will proceed to the semi-finals and thereafter the title match.

Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong took pole in the Men's Open division with lines of 237, 231, 227 and 205 for a total of exactly 900. Wu's last triumph was when he successfully defended the Hong Kong Open title in 2007 after having won it in 2006 and 2003.

Since then, Wu has not had much success with little to show in the Asian Championship on home ground in Hong Kong and the World Men's Championship in Bangkok. Wu will be hot favourite when the Masters finals is contested this weekend.

Fellow-compatriots, Michael Tsang, Eric Tseng and Cyrus Cheung finished a distant second to fourth on scores of 813, 806 and 801 respectively. In the local pool, Keith Guerrero topped the table with 841 with JD Castro and Jay Leon Guerrero second and third.

Wu Siu Hong taking the early lead

Asian Ranked No. 1, Chan Shuk Han easily led the Ladies' Open division with a score of 761. She downed 205, 183, 190 and 183 to finish ahead of Vanessa Fung in second, who posted 739.

Newcomer, Milki Ng, also from Hong Kong took third spot with 731 as Shannon Bukikosa was the only Guam lady who has made an attempt to lead the local pool with 648. The scores will sure be higher as more foreign bowlers arrive for this year's championship this week.

The top 8 local, top 8 foreign and top 8 from the mixed pool in the Men's Open division will qualify for the Masters finals scheduled for October 11 over 8 games. The top 4 local, top 4 foreign and top 4 from the mixed pool in the Ladies' Open division will do likewise.

Chan Shuk Han leading the Ladies' Open division

The top 8 men at the end of the finals will advance into the elimination rounds with the top 4 earning a bye into Round 2. The 5th-seed will meet the 8th-seed while the 6th and 7th seeds will face each other. The winners of Round 1 will meet the 4 seeded bowlers in Round 2 and winners will proceed to the semi-finals and thereafter the title match.